Hazel Scott React

 Hazel Scott

Hazel Scott was a jazz artist that played the piano. She had a large influence that she used to help fight racism. She would refuse to play in any movie that would display her as a maid prostitute or slave. This was very common at this time to display black women as dumb and useless in movies. She would make sure if she were to be in a movie that it would be in the contract that she would have the final say over what she wore and who she played, she would not play anyone other than herself. She went on strike for three days during the filming of a movie because they were dressing the other black women in raggy and dirty clothes. She ended up getting her way after the three days passed and this set a presence for how much respect she demanded. She later went on to host her own tv show called the Hazel Scott show. She ended up divorcing her husband and moving to France where she once again became a large influential performer. She did not return to America until 1967 when she would only do a few performances here and there. As we all know there are many stereotypes for many different people which is not different for African Americans. 

Although hazel Scott had made an impact on stereotypes for black people in her movies we are still dealing with these issues today. After doing some research on what stereotypes there are for African Americans today. I have found that typical stereotypes for black males of success would be to assume that they are either professional sports players or a rapper. Some other instances of this in advertising are drug usage and inadequate fatherhood. 

“Media Portrayals and Black Male Outcomes.” The Opportunity Agenda, https://www.opportunityagenda.org/explore/resources-publications/media-representations-impact-black-men/media-portrayals.